Southern California Nature Guide

I’ve been using this for our Forest Friends group. So far it’s been helpful in identifying native plants and birds among other things. Will be using it more in the future. Love the accurate drawings.

This brief (224 pp.) guide does have a place for the amateur naturalist because it gives such a wide overview of species. Within are illustrations and short descriptions of major mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, fish, and invertebrates, and for plants: major trees, shrubs, wildflowers, and seaweed. You would advisedly not use it in the outdoors to identify individual species because too few representatives are given. But it is great to read at home for interesting, basic information about what you might run across out there. If you are serious about learning and identifying, say, specific trees or birds, then do get a guidebook on that topic. The area covered also includes a good portion of central California, including San Luis Obispo and Kern counties east to the Mojave. North of that, refer to the Northern California Nature Guide, to which my same remarks apply.

My five-year old grandson liked this a lot. The illustrations of animals were very clear and beautiful. The flower illustrations were smaller than I would have liked, but for the price of the book that was OK. My grandson was more interested in the animals anyway.

I enjoy visiting natural areas of southern and central California, so I got this book as a basic nature reference. This slim book goes over many common species including mammals, birds, insects, sea life, and sea plants. It includes non-native but common wildlife. Entries are short and clear. Recommend for an introductory book in to commonly found wildlife.

Awesome little starter book for my 2 year old.

This book is awesome

A great gift idea for the animal loving Californian in your life !!!

The book is just too basic for a field guide. I would say this is best for a childs' first field guide.